Fire-starting method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An incendiary method and apparatus includes a method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting fires which includes forming the incendiary apparatus with a composition of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and a polymer and then extruding the incendiary composition into a continuous extrusion and cutting the extrusion into sections to form individual incendiary devices. The method includes extruding the incendiary composition with a wire or bore formed therethrough into a generally cylindrical shape. The method also includes selecting an incendiary apparatus having a predetermined shape for producing a predetermined flame pattern when ignited and having an ignition wire extending therethrough, heating the ignition wire, and dispensing the selected incendiary apparatus having the heated ignition wire from a remote location into an area for starting a fire. The incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire includes a generally cylindrical fire starting apparatus having an igniter therein and having a composition which includes potassium nitrate, sulfur and a polymer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to incendiary devices used to initiatefires. More particularly it relates to fire-starting devices that permitfires to be started from remote locations including aircraft.

[0002] Prior art systems used in remotely igniting fires employ toxicand/or highly flammable materials that are expensive to produce andapply. The methods necessary to prime, ignite and/or dispense thesematerials are complex, expensive and can be dangerous when a malfunctionoccurs.

[0003] The prior U.S. patents to Jacobson U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,667 and5,783,768 and 6,128,845 are all for a fire starting flare. A firestarting flare for hand-held launchers has a fuse and igniter assemblywithin a flare core material such that as the flare is launched, thefire ignites and, as the flare lands, the fuse reaches the igniterassembly to set off the flare. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,493 toAndersson, et al., a low energy fuse includes a plastic tube including achannel therein. The channel contains a reactive material able uponignition to sustain a shock wave within the channel. The tube comprisesat least two layers of plastic materials including a polymer. The tubecan be manufactured by extrusion techniques. In the U.S. Pat. No.4,883,498 to MacIsaac, an artificial fire log is formed of a elongatedflammable body through extrusion.

[0004] In contrast to these prior art devices, the present invention isfor a method of making an incendiary device for remotely igniting a firewhich includes forming the incendiary composition utilizing potassiumnitrate sulfur and a polymer and extruding the composition around apiece of wire and cutting the extrusion into sections to form theindividual incendiary devices and includes the incendiary methods forigniting a fire which includes selecting the incendiary apparatus,heating the ignition wire, and dispensing the incendiary apparatus froma remote location into an area for starting a fire or the like.

[0005] Consequently, the purpose of the present invention is to providea safer and less expensive fire-starting device that can utilize asafer, less complex and less expensive ignition and dispensing systemthereby reducing the hazards and costs of remotely initiating fires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An incendiary method and apparatus includes a method of making anincendiary apparatus for remotely igniting fires which includes formingthe incendiary apparatus with a composition of potassium nitrate,sulfur, and a polymer and then extruding the incendiary composition intoa continuous extrusion and cutting the extrusion into sections to formindividual incendiary devices. The method includes extruding theincendiary composition with a wire or bore formed therethrough into agenerally cylindrical shape. The method also includes selecting anincendiary apparatus having a predetermined shape for producing apredetermined flame pattern when ignited and having an ignition wireextending therethrough, heating the ignition wire, and dispensing theselected incendiary apparatus having the heated ignition wire from aremote location into an area for starting a fire. The incendiaryapparatus for remotely igniting a fire includes a generally cylindricalfire starting apparatus having an igniter therein and having acomposition which includes potassium nitrate, sulfur and a polymer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a fire-starter in accordance withthe present invention; and

[0009]FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the fire-starter in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fire-starting device 10 shows sideand end views of a cylinder 11 containing a metal or metal alloy wire 12extending longitudinally from end to end at its center. The wire, whensufficiently heated, ignites the device and creates a channelimmediately adjacent to and along the length of said wire that causesthe device to burn in a manner so as to project a flame or flames fromthe device 10 in a plane parallel to the wire. In the preferredembodiment, the wire is heated by means of radio frequency induction,but could also be heated by any other means. In another embodiment, thewire is heated by applying electrical energy to the wire through contactat each end of the wire. In the preferred embodiment, a metal or metalalloy wire 12 extends longitudinally from end to end at the center ofthe device 10, but any electrically conductive material could be used inplace of the wire. In another embodiment, a bore or other lengthwisevoid is manufactured in the device 10 in place of the wire 12. Thesurface of the bore or void can be ignited by any of various meansincluding, but not limited to a flame, plasma, gas, fuse, priming deviceor other material acting as a first ignition means that will cause thedevice to ignite and burn in a manner so as to project a flame or flamesin a plane parallel to the bore or void. FIG. 1 shows the preferredembodiment of the device as cylindrical in shape with a length twice itsdiameter, but the device could be any geometric size, shape or designwithout deviating from the scope or essential attributes of the presentinvention.

[0011] The chemical ingredients of the present invention by weight are40-70% potassium nitrate, 5-30% sulfur and 12-30% polymer, preferably apolyethylene, polypropylene or a copolymer of these. Silicon particlescan be added, 3-20% by weight, to increase heat output and to assist inignition. Metal or metal alloy particles can be included, 3-30% byweight, in place of or in addition to the silicon which will produce avery hot and fast burning device. A “blowing” agent can also be addedcausing the polymer to foam during manufacture.

EXAMPLE

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention byweight is 60% potassium nitrate, 22% polyethylene copolymer, 15% sulfurand 3% silicon. Other percentages of these ingredients as well as otheroxidizers, other fuels and other suitable polymers, stabilizers,catalysts and chemicals used to facilitate performance can also beincluded without deviating from the scope or essential attributes of thepresent invention. However, insensitivity and high auto-ignitiontemperature similar to that of the preferred embodiment composition areessential to the preferred method of manufacture as well as theincreased safety of the end user.

[0013] Other known fire-starting devices are manufactured either in partor completely by hand and most rely on a time consuming drying or curingcycle. The novel chemical composition and physical design of the presentinvention allow it to be manufactured completely by conventional polymermolding equipment and, in the preferred embodiment, in a continuousextrusion process thereby eliminating tedious and costly handconstruction and/or lengthy processing times. Extrusion is a well-knownand cost effective method for processing material into a profile. Simplycutting the extruded profile at predetermined intervals results inindividual parts of specific length. The preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is a cylinder ¾ inches in diameter and 1½ inches inlength containing a metal or metal alloy wire extending longitudinallyfrom end to end at its center. In manufacturing the preferredembodiment, a ¾ inch round profile is continuously extruded with a metalor metal alloy wire embedded at its center. As the extrudate leaves theextruder die, it is quenched and becomes a solid rod allowing it to becut into 1½ inch lengths and thus is immediately a finished product. Inanother embodiment, the device is manufactured with a bore or otherlengthwise void in place of said wire, otherwise using the sameprocesses as in the preferred embodiment. In another embodiment, thedevice is manufactured with an electrically conductive material in placeof said wire, otherwise using the same processes as in the preferredembodiment. Any polymer molding equipment can also be used tomanufacture the device in any geometric size, shape or design withoutdeviating from the scope or essential attributes of the presentinvention.

[0014] The flame pattern of known fire-starting devices is perpendicularto the horizon thus radiating most of the heat vertically above thedevice in an area where there is a low concentration of ignitable fuels.The preferred mode of deploying the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is with its longitudinal aspect parallel to and lying on thesurface of the ground or water. When ignited, the flames emitted fromthe present invention are thus projected parallel to and along thesurface of said ground or water thereby advantageously applying most ofthe generated heat horizontally to areas near the surface of said groundor water where ignitable fuels are typically more concentrated.

I claim:
 1. A method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotelyigniting a fire comprising the steps of: forming an incendiarycomposition having between 40 and 70 percent by weight of potassiumnitrate; between 5 and 30 percent by weight of sulfur; and between 12and 30 percent by weight of a polymer; extruding said incendiarycomposition into a continuous extrusion; and cutting said extrusion intosections to form individual incendiary devices.
 2. A method of making anincendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire in accordance withclaim 1 including the step of extruding said incendiary composition witha wire formed thereinside.
 3. A method of making an incendiary apparatusfor remotely igniting a fire in accordance with claim 1 including thestep of extruding said incendiary composition into a generallycylindrical shaped extrusion.
 4. A method of making an incendiaryapparatus for remotely igniting a fire in accordance with claim 1including the step of extruding said incendiary composition into agenerally cylindrical shaped extrusion having a diameter of about threequarters of an inch.
 5. An incendiary method for initiating a firecomprising the steps of: selecting an incendiary apparatus having apredetermined elongated shape having two ends for producing apredetermined flame pattern projecting from both ends thereof whenignited and having an igniter therein; igniting said selected incendiaryapparatus; and dispensing said selected ignited incendiary apparatusfrom a remote location into an area for starting a fire whereby a firecan be safely ignited from a distance.
 6. An incendiary apparatus forremotely igniting a fire comprising: a generally cylindrical firestarting apparatus having an igniter therein and having a compositionincluding: between 40 and 70 percent by weight of potassium nitrate;between 5 and 30 percent by weight of sulfur; and between 12 and 30percent by weight of a polymer.
 7. An incendiary apparatus for remotelyigniting a fire in accordance with claim 6 in which said fire startingapparatus composition includes: about 60 percent by weight of potassiumnitrate; about 15 percent by weight of sulfur; about 22 percent byweight of a polyethylene copolymer; and about 3 percent by weight ofsilicon.